Transmission-gear



1. M. WAUGH.

TRANSMISSION GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT 2, I9I9I.

Patented Julie 28, 1,921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 f UNITED vSTATES Pari-:NT OFFICE.

JAMES IIIL'IoN WAUGII, oF CHICAGO, ILLINoIs.

rI'RANsMIssIoN-,Gnaa

T 0 all whom t may concern v Be it known that I, JAMES MILTON WAUG a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Transmission-Gear; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of devices shown and described in my co-pending application for resilient transmission gear, filed October 10, 1919, Serial No. 329,709.

The invention contemplates the use of resilient friction-plate mechanisms interposed between the wheel portionand a movable rim thereon, which in their assembled relation constitute a unitary gear element adapted for use as a transmission gear, and owing to its construction serving to absorb load impact stresses andeifect ayieldable drive between a driving and a driven element.

It is an object therefore of this invention to construct a resilient type of transmission gear comprising a wheel structure having a rim movably mounted thereon and with said rim and wheel provided with registering pockets and abutment memberswith groups of resilient friction-plate members ydisposed therein tending to resist relative movement between said rim and wheelV in either direction. It is also an object of this invention to provide arresilient type of'transmission gear adapted to apply power yieldablyfrom the source of power to a driven mechanism and acting effectively to absorb load impacts between a driving and a driven mechanism.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from thedisclosures in the drawings and specification.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustratedin the drawings land hereinafter more fully described.

,Y Drafwngc. Figure 1V is. a diagrammatical view illustrating an adaptation of a gear embodying the principles of my inventionv to an electricvlocomotive driving mechanism.

Fig.,2 is an elevation partly in lsection 'of 'a wheel embodying the principles of my invention. v

specification of Letters Patent. Patented 'June 28, 1921 Application med october 2, 1919. serial No. 327,960. l Y

Referring to Fig. 1, a pair of driving m0- tors are shown conventionally indicated respectively -by the reference numeralsl and 2, and provided with pinions 3 and 4 each of which meshes with 'a transmission gear embodying the principles of my invention and denoted as a whole by the reference numeral 5. vSaid transmission gear is `provided with an integral crank member 6, and journaled on the crank shaft extension thereof is one end of a connecting rod 7 which is also j ournaled on the crank shaft of a driver wheel 8. Another connecting rod 9 is journaled on a crank shaft extension of the connecting rod 7 and also upon the crank shaft of a driver wheel 10. K' l Y The transmission gearA 5 comprises an inner wheel structure 11 which, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, has the crank portion 6 integral therewith. Said inner'wheel structure has also formed integrally therewith a counterweight 12 diametrically opposite to the crank extension 6 to balance the same and the yconnecting rods attached-thereon against centrifugal effects. Formed on the rim 13 of said inner wheel 11 are a plurality of pockets 14 in the instance shown, four in number, although 4the particular number is immaterial and may vary with transmission gearsv of different designs. Each of the pockets 14 isprovided with abutments 15 at ments 18 on the interior thereof, in an Yinwardlyjdirected side flange 19 which extends inwardly over one side surface of the wheel 16 as shown clearly 'in Fig. 6. On the oppo- 17 ofthe ring gear are of greater width: atI their middle portion thusv affording abut-v site side of said Wheel a ring plate of almost complete circular form and denotedby the reference numeral 2O is bolted to the rim of lgear 16 by bolts 21 to Ahold the ringl gear rotatably adjustable on the wheel rim 13.

`As shown clearly in-Fig. 6, the ring gear 16 is provided with boss or lug extensions 22 which project through lapertures in the \retaining ring 20, and the attachingbolts 23 of theV ring plate 20 Aafford abutments 24,

corresponding to the abutments 18 of the pockets v17. l

Disposed-in the pockets 14 and inclosed by the pockets' 17 and 23 of the ringy gear and retaining ring 20 are a plurality of groups of resilient spring friction plates 25 and 26.

lDisposed therebetween is a doubly concave vintermediate abutment plate 27 and endy follower blocks 28 and 29 respectively are provided at 'the outer' ends of the friction plate' groups, the surfaces of contact of said follower blocks with the respective friction -plates being convex.

, Witht'he parts in the normal position shownin Figs. 2 and 3, the ring gear V16 is disposed with the ends ofthe pockets 17 thereon equidistantly beyond the outer ends of the-abutments 15 of the wheel rim 13, and the resilient friction plates 25 and' 26 repose in the unstressed position as in Fig. 3 with the'movable follower blocks 28 and 29 respectively bearing against the respective Vabutments 15 of the wheel rim and abutments 18 and 24 respectively of the ring gear and Vretaininof ring mounted on said wheel. When a drive is imparted to the gearV to rotate the ring gear in a clockwise direction referring to Figs. 1 and 2; then,

if" the parts move to an extreme position,

theyvassume the relation shown in Fig. 4.

' When the elements Aare in this position vand the friction lates 25 and 26 are under stress, each of t e follower blocks 28 has A' been moved by the abutments 18 and 24v of abutm'ents 15 onthe wheel.

the ring gear'and ring plate, but the follower blocks 29 areheld stationary by the As a consef 'gi1ence, with the friction plates 25 and 26 1n an extreme position, a directtransmission 'of drive from the ring gear 16 tothe wheel 114-13 is effected but in the creation of such drivi-ngfefect` the resilient plates are necessarily stressed first so that the load as received by the driving ringgear is yieldably` applied. `The resilient friction plates .,cmovement .ing action through the resilient friction plates. f

Furthermore, the groups ofresilient friction 'plates have a' resilient action which is entirely different from that of ordinary spring mechanisms. That is to say, the! resilient vfriction plates operate/also as an absorbing means to absorb shocks of. suddenly -rimparted load or impacts and prevent av resilientA oscillation of the ringgear 16 with Arespect to its wheel 1113. This is Vdue to the large amount of friction between the surfaces ofthe friction plates, which acts with the stiffness of the resilient plates inV resisting'the fleXure thereof, and again enters into the operation to prevent sudden recoil of the plates to normal. Loads suddenly applied which are comparable to impacts or shocks exert'a greater compressive effect upon the resilient friction plates and Vnot only serveto deiiect the-same under stress but vlikewise increase the pressure therebetween and consequently increase theffriction whichserves to assist :the plates in resisting flexu're. If it were notfor the friction between the plates when theV load is suddenly released,

the recoil action due to the resiliency of theY plates would cause a sudden oscillating movement between the ring gear 16 and its wheel 11-13 and the movement of the parts would probably set upan oscillation continuing for a certain length of time depending on'conditions. Ofcourse, this is not kdesirable where a uniform drive is at all times demanded. The friction between the plates, however, operates to resist Ythe recoil and prevents such an action being set up. The

operation of the resilient members is always yieldable, both under the application of load and subsequently kunder the release ofthe load.

'I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range-without departing from the .principles o'f this invention, and Iv therefore do not purposelimiting the patent granted other- 'wise than necessitated by the prior art. Claims: c Y i 1. A transmission gear comprising aY ring gear, a wheel memberrmcunted thereinand provided withV pockets, 'resilient plates disv.posed transversely in the pockets, follower blocksk associated' therewith and movable 'with said plates in said,pockets,..abutments on the ends of said Ipockets .to resist Vretractivcmovements `of thev follower blocks, and abutments-on said ring gear contacting' said follower blocks to thrust the same-toward one another and stress said resilient members when a drlve 1s transmitted by the transmission gear.

2. A transmission gear of the class de-A scribed comprising a wheel member, a ring gear having a lost motion connection therewith, transversely disposed resilient friction plate members mounted in said wheel, follower blocks vassociated therewith and limited from separating movement by said wheel, and abutments on the ring gear to 'contact the follower blocks and impel the same toward one another during transmission of a drive.

3. A transmission gear comprising a Wheel, a rim thereon, pockets formed in the rim, a ring gear rotatably mounted on said rim, abutments on said rim and ring gear to limit the lost motion therebetween, a plurality of groups of friction plates disposed transversely in the pockets of said rim, foly lower blocks associated therewith normally resting against the abutments formed on said ring gear, said abutments formed on said ring gear contacting said follower blocks and adapted, together with an abutment on the rim, to flexV the plates under stress when a drive is transmitted by said gear.

4. A transmission gear of the class described comprising a wheel, a ring gear rotatably associated therewith, an inwardly directed ange on saidrring gear fitting against the wheel, groups of resilient friction plates interposed between said wheel and ring gear to effect yieldable driving connection therebetween and a retaining ring plate bolted on said ring gear and overlapping said wheel to hold Vthe ringV gear in proper relation on said wheel.

5. A transmission gear of the class fle-- scribed comprising a wheel, a ring gear rotatably associated therewith, inwardly directed means on said ring gear overlapping said wheel on one side thereof, means atscribed, a wheel, a ring gear rotatively associated therewith, an lnwardly directed flange on said ring gear overlapping said wheel on one side thereof, means attached on the other side of said ringgear overlapping the wheel to hold the ring gear assembled on the wheel, and a plurality of groups of resilient friction plate mechanisms inclosed b and interposed between said ring gear an wheel to provide a yieldable driving connection therebetween.

A transmission gear mechanism comprising rotatable concentric members, groups of spring friction plates disposed between said concentric members, and slidable doubly concave abutment members separating the groups of friction spring. plates to permit the same to be flexed when a drive is transmitted by the transmission gear mechanism.

8. A transmission gear mechanism comprising rotatable co-axial members', groups of spring friction plates disposed between said coaxial members, slidable concave members separating the groups of spring friction lates, and slidable convex follower blocks lsposed at the outer sides of said groups of spring friction plates.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES MILTON WAUGI-I.

Witnesses RmsDALE ELLIS, Ln ROY D. KILEY. 

